Oblomov Boblomov wrote:It's different because we're talking about children, who for obvious reasons should be protected from 'learning' utter bollocks during their formative years.
I think this gets to the heart of it.
Anecdote time! I went to a COE primary. I vividly remember a science teacher
[EDIT: teacher in a science lesson? I think we were too young for separate subject teachers] using the fact that seeds (of annual plants, or whatever) germinate at approximately the same time of year every year to argue that God exists. I also recall various aspects of Jesus' life, including the resurrection, being presented as absolute fact. I think the reason I remember those moments is that I was a fairly bright 8-or-9-year-old, and I was confused and maybe a bit upset that my teachers would, as far as I could see, occasionally
outright lie about stuff.
My education was fine, but it would have been
better if the teachers hadn't been allowed to say that nonsense. And COE schools are the
best case of religious education. Islamic schools, Jewish schools, Catholic schools -- by virtue of not being good-old-wishy-washy-COE they're almost certainly going to be way pushier with the bollocks, and way less attentive to the actual curriculum.